by Tracy March
He gave her a crooked grin. “Right now I’d say I’m completely engaged.”
She smiled demurely. “But I want to take you to my secret place.”
Bryce loosened his grip on her, giving her a full view of the quizzical, playful look on his face. “Is that a come-on? Because I’m way past ready to go to your secret place.”
She laughed, a sweet, musical sound that resonated in his heart. “I think we have different secret places in mind.”
“Man,” he said forlornly, and pressed his forehead to hers. “You sure know how to slay a guy.”
“You’ll like it. I promise.”
He sighed and set his gaze on hers. “I’ll keep an open mind,” he teased.
“Go put on your hiking boots,” she said. “I’ve got everything else.”
Yes, you do.
Bryce reluctantly released her and she scanned the living space, ultimately setting her sights on the dining area with its large picture window overlooking the river.
“This is a really nice place,” she said.
He followed the path of her gaze, catching a glimpse of the picture of his father and the mystery woman that he had left on the nearby coffee table. His heart skidded to a stop, then ticked forward in overdrive. The calendars were spread out among the newspapers, too.
Everything I’ve been hiding from her, right out in the open for her to see.
“You definitely need to get a closer look at that view.” Guilt gripped him as he gestured toward the dining area window—at the opposite side of the cabin from all the evidence that would bust him. “Check out the wildflowers along the riverbank,” he said as she walked in one direction and he headed in the other. Hiding the picture was his first priority. He casually swept it from the end table and slid it beneath one of the thick couch cushions.
“Wow, they’re gorgeous, and there seem to be more of them this year. I could sit here all day,” she said as he collected the calendars, quickly counting them to make sure he hadn’t missed one in the mess, and shoving them under another couch cushion. “What are you doing?” she asked before he had time to stand upright.
Bryce’s stomach seesawed. “It looks like a tornado blew through the place over here.” He grabbed a handful of newspapers from the couch and put them on top of the stacks on the coffee table, hoping like hell she was buying his bluff. “I wouldn’t want you to get the wrong impression.” Satisfied that his secrets were somewhat well hidden, he gazed at her sheepishly. “In other words, I’m not a slob, I promise.” He gave her a please-believe-me grin, which wrecked him inside. He hated that he had to hide things from her.
Holly walked over to the living area and took in his “tornado.” She picked up one of the newspapers he’d just set on top of the stacks and studied it. “Thanks for reading all the articles. For that, I can forgive a little mess.”
Bryce’s chest tightened. He hardly deserved her forgiveness.
She looked up from the newspaper and grinned. “You gonna waste daylight playing Molly Maid, or are you going to put on your hiking boots?”
Stay and guard your secrets, or put on your boots so you can leave?
He had to give up one to do the other. Unless…
“Want to see the rest of the place?” he asked.
“Sure.”
Bryce led her down the hallway. “Guest bathroom here.” He pointed to the first open door. At the next one he said, “Guest bedroom here.”
Holly peeked into both rooms. “Nice.”
The hall ended at the doorway to the master suite and they stepped inside. Of all the times he’d imagined her in this room with him, the scenario had never involved his putting on hiking boots.
“There’s another view of the river and the flowers,” she said excitedly as she headed over to the bank of windows that took up most of the back wall.
Bryce grabbed his boots from the closet, put them on, and tugged a fleece pullover from a hanger. Once the sun started going down, the bottom would fall out of the temperature.
“I bet it’s pretty sweet waking up to this,” Holly said.
Being in such close proximity to Holly and a king-sized bed had Bryce even more eager to put the two of them together. “You’re welcome anytime you want to check it out.”
“Only if breakfast is included.” She winked. “Bryce’s B and B.” She walked over to the door, dashing his hopes that she might be tempted to stay.
“I’ve only got eggs for you,” he joked.
She scrunched her face, but still managed to smile. “You did not just say that.”
“I did,” he said proudly. “And I’m owning it.” He clasped her hand and led her back into the living area. “Sunny-side up. Over easy. Scrambled with cheese. Any way you want ’em.”
She gave him a flirty grin. “Keep the fridge stocked.”
Bryce bunched his lips and nodded. “At least there’s hope.”
They left the cabin and got in Holly’s SUV, and she drove them outside of town along dirt roads he’d yet to travel. Country music played on the radio, and Holly sang along sometimes, her voice a pretty alto. A fan of country rock himself, he sang along too when a familiar tune came on—only he made up his own words, which had Holly busting out laughing.
“Do you know the real words?” she asked.
“Yes—I just sang them. I saw the lyrics on a YouTube video, so they have to be right.”
She shook her head as if there was no hope for him.
After several miles heading to higher elevation, Holly pulled the SUV to the side of the road and parked.
Bryce scanned the desolate landscape—rocky terrain, a craggy mountain rise, scrubby foliage, an occasional spruce tree. He lowered his eyebrows, feigning disappointment. “I hate to say it, but I had higher hopes for your secret place.”
“Keep your boots on, mister,” she teased. “We’re not there yet.” She grabbed her backpack from the floorboard behind Bryce’s seat. “Follow me.”
They got out of the SUV and Holly lifted the pack, preparing to put it on. Bryce reached out and clutched the strap. “How about I carry it? I make an awesome Sherpa.” It was the least he could do since he hadn’t brought his pack along.
She released it to him. “If I’d known there were Sherpas like you, I would’ve hired one a long time ago.”
Bryce straightened his spine, pleased by her compliment. He put the pack on his back and she led him to the side of the street where the mountain rose up a rugged slope. Even though he had a good eye for trails, he couldn’t spot one.
About twenty yards up the road, just past a crop of purple wildflowers, she cut across the ditch and started climbing the rocks that had naturally formed awkward and uneven stairs, several requiring all-fours climbing to get up. Bryce’s knee was throbbing by the time they reached the top of them. The terrain became more manageable through the spruce forest, where the incline was more gradual thanks to several switchbacks Holly took on a whim, because he still didn’t see a trail. Her secret place must truly be a secret.
Bryce liked that they could hike together in comfortable silence, enjoying the calm of the early evening, the sunlight seeping through the tree canopy, the soft pad of their footsteps on the forest floor.
After another round of rocky steps, they came upon a flat area with waist-high bushes and wildflowers backed by a bank of red rock just below the mountain’s peak. As if Holly had an inner GPS, she cut through the bushes, heading for the rock. Just before they reached the base of it, the bushes gave way to a large patch of long, deep green, silky grass, swept to the side by the wind. It looked as if it had been groomed that way, begging for someone to lie down in it. Behind it were several flat boulders, and the sheer rise of rock up to the peak.
Holly stopped and faced him, an expectant look on her pretty, pink-cheeked face.
He took it all in, gazing up at the sky beyond the craggy summit, its blue fading with the oncoming sunset. “It’s like a cozy outdoor cathedral—if that makes any sense
.”
Holly smiled as if he’d said exactly what she had hoped for. “It is cozy.” She pulled the pack off his back and guided it onto the grass. Clutching his hand, she turned him around. “Until you see what’s behind you.”
Awestruck, Bryce didn’t know where to look first. At the stunning panorama of mountains and valleys beneath the color-shifting sky. At the town of Thistle Bend sprawling on a grid below. Or at Holly, because his reaction was clearly important to her.
He chose Holly. Reaching out, he pulled her to him and kissed her lightly. “I love your secret place. I have no idea how you found it, because there was absolutely no trail there.”
“But did you see it?”
He furrowed his brow.
She faced forward and pointed to the right. “Look below the purplish-gray peak over there.”
Fortunately the mountains were distinct enough in color that he knew which one she meant. Just below the peak she’d indicated, glass gleamed beneath the gables of a gorgeous structure. Farther down the mountain, a lake sparkled like a blue topaz in the setting sun.
Bryce’s heart tumbled. “The lodge. It looks so amazing from here—kind of the way I see it in my mind.”
Holly beamed. “Wait till the colors in the glass change with the sunset. It’s beautiful in every hue—just like you’re going to make it.”
He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, cradling her against him. She fit just right, her head resting on his shoulder. He leaned down and whispered, “What did I do to deserve you?”
Bryce held her there in silence as the sinking sun set the sky on fire with yellow and purple and orange. In this serene setting, everything fell away except the two of them.
The temperature cooled, but holding Holly kept him plenty warm. His body stirred with desire, his need for her building with every breath. Eager to have her even closer, he smoothed his hands beneath the fleece pullover she had tied at her waist, loosening it until he could tug it away. As he dropped it by the backpack, she nestled more closely to him, the curve of her behind bringing his cock to attention.
Skimming his fingers down her sides, Bryce untucked her shirt, sliding his hands beneath it, the lightweight sports fabric skimming his knuckles like feathers. He clutched her waist, loving the feel of tight muscle beneath satiny skin.
Holly rolled her head against his chest. “Your hands feel so good,” she said breathily, encouragement in her tone.
His heart surged. Longing to touch all of her, he swept his hands farther up and cupped her breasts, cursing her bra for interference.
She arched at the gentle pressure of his hands. “Take it off. No one in an SUV is going to interrupt us this time.”
Bryce’s cock jumped, fighting against the zipper of his jeans. No doubt Holly could feel how much he wanted her. He reached between them and unhooked her bra. Drawing in a deep breath, he closed his eyes for a moment and smoothed his hands beneath it. Her shapely breasts were warm and firm and supple in his hands, her nipples becoming erect from the teasing circles of his fingers.
“This is a fantasy,” he murmured into her ear, inhaling her intoxicating scent.
Holly turned to face him and met his gaze, brushing a lock of hair away from his face. “I can see the sunset in your eyes.”
Bryce drew her to him and kissed her with all the fire inside him. She matched his passion as she untucked his shirt, lifting it with a sensual swipe of her fingers against his abs, urging him to remove it. Interrupting their kiss, he pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it on the grass.
Holly lightly kissed his pecs, tracing her fingertips along each cut of his abs. He clenched his jaw as she moved lower, his heart thundering as she focused her attention on the button of his jeans. She slowly unfastened it and pulled down his zipper, tick by pleasurable tick, relieving some of the pressure.
“Mystery solved,” she said lightly. “Boxer briefs it is.” She slipped her hands beneath the waistband and pushed them down with his jeans, allowing his erection to spring free. She met his gaze and gave him a shy smile, as if she liked what she saw. Proving it, she tightly gripped his cock and kneeled in front of him.
Bryce’s breath caught as she took him in her mouth, pleasing him as if she knew precisely how he preferred it. He tangled his fingers in her hair, his head tipped back, channeling all the discipline he’d learned in search and rescue, trying not to let go.
As he neared the edge, he reluctantly pulled away from her and drew her to her feet. “Lie down with me,” he said. He quickly pulled off his boots and his jeans, grabbed his emergency condom from his wallet, and put it on top of the pile. In the short time it had taken him to shuck the rest of his clothes, Holly had pulled off her boots, respectably more modest than he.
Bryce skimmed his fingers from the V-neck of her shirt down to the hem. “Let me,” he said, eager to see all of her in the glow of the sunset. He pulled her shirt and bra over her head with a gentle swoosh, getting his first glimpse at her perfect breasts as her hair settled around her shoulders and skimmed her pink nipples.
Good God.
He cupped her breasts in his hands, resisting the urge to get carried away…yet. Lightly brushing the pads of this thumbs over her nipples, he combed his fingers down her flat midsection until he reached the waistband of her pants. He unbuttoned them, slid them down, and helped her step out of them, leaving her wearing only a tiny pair of lacy lavender panties. He stood still for a moment, taking in the sight of her.
Dazed by the rush, he murmured, “Like you said, there are no words…” He bent and lifted her. Cradling her against his bare chest, he kissed her gently and laid her down on the soft bed of silky grass, the mountain peak rising behind them, the sky swirling with color above.
Bryce knelt next to her, unable to get his fill of looking at her body. He skimmed his fingertips across her lips, trailed them along her neck and across her breasts—where he lingered—all the way down to the delicate lace of her panties. Sweeping his hands beneath them, he slid them down her toned, slender legs, and set them aside. He settled next to her, skin to skin in the soft grass, and kissed her tenderly. Longing to be inside her, he gently gripped her thigh and spread her legs. With a feathery touch, he traced his way to her velvety folds, parting them and finding her ready for him.
“That’s my girl,” he whispered. He kissed her more deeply, the rhythm of his tongue matching that of the two fingers he slid inside her. She clutched his pec and arched for him, her sexy whimpers tempting him to take her now.
Bryce moved between her legs, his heart hammering, his cock rigid and ready. He kissed Holly’s breasts and followed the same path his fingers had traced until his mouth was on her.
Tasting her.
Teasing her.
Taking her to her limit.
Her breaths became ragged as she clutched his head, her fingers twined in his hair. “Bryce,” she cried as she shuddered, turning him on even more. He kissed her inner thighs as she settled, his cock aching for release. Pulling away, he reached for the condom packet, ripped it open, and rolled the condom on.
He lay between her legs, propped himself on his elbows, and gazed at the sunset in her eyes. “I want to remember this moment,” he said huskily. “Hopefully we’ll be doing this forever, but we’ll only have one first time.” He kissed her lightly, and brushed his cock against her sensitive folds.
“I’ll never forget it,” she whispered, lifting her hips and urging him to take her.
Bryce entered her gently, inch by sweet, slippery inch, enveloped by her slick tightness. He gathered her to him and rocked her slowly, their bodies in gentle rhythm, her breasts firm against his pecs.
“God, Bryce,” she said urgently. “I’m coming apart again.” She thrust her hips upward, out of rhythm. Crying out, she unleashed his passion.
He plunged into her recklessly as she shattered around him, giving her all he had until, with one final thrust, his world burst into colors brighter than the fi
re in the sky.
Chapter 16
Holly chose scrambled eggs with cheese.
She had stayed at Bryce’s place last night and, just as he’d promised, the sleepover had included breakfast.
The sleepover…
Holly sighed contentedly. Glancing at the clock in her bedroom, she shook her head, trying to clear the hazy afterglow from her mind.
Can you focus on anything without thinking about what happened last night?
She was back at her house, standing in front of her closet, staring blankly at her clothes as if she’d never coordinated an outfit in her life. Bryce was due there in ten minutes. As much as he might prefer her not to be clothed, they had to go out today—to the farmers market, and to the Princess to have Bloody Marys with Lindsey, Milly, and Merri.
Holly hoped the sisters would have some clue about what had happened to the woman from the suite at the lodge, or at least be able to identify her. Those quirky little ladies had been around Thistle Bend a long time, and they seemed to have a secret stash of information that came in handy at the most critical times.
Bryce needed to find out the truth about the woman before inspections started at the lodge this week. The stacks and strewn-about newspapers in his cabin told Holly how concerned he was about the questions surrounding the woman. They seemed to be the last remaining barrier between him and his vision of how things would go with the purchase of the lodge. He wasn’t naïve—he knew people might not be pleased with his plan, and he’d calculated that in his decision. But the eerie suite and the lady who’d lived there hadn’t been part of his equation.
That’s why she’d been eager to take him to the special spot on the mountain last night. To show him how beautiful the lodge looked from there and encourage him to stay motivated toward his dream. The place was definitely romantic—idyllic and awesome and vast—but she hadn’t anticipated things getting so sexy. Tingles swirled through her as her thoughts strayed back to the dazzling sunset. The long, soft grass. The heat of Bryce’s skin against hers.